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| Shammah, Eastern Wanderer http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5543 |
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| Author: | Sage-Child [ January 24th, 2006, 6:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Shammah, Eastern Wanderer |
One day early. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. Words with ^ after them have further information at the bottom of the page. Shammah, Eastern Wanderer Black hair, brown eyes. Dark skin. 5'10". Shammah grew up in the far southeast. Born into a tribe of Nephtali^, he learned at an early age to wield a sword, being taught by his father, who was a warrior. Life was hard, droughts and raids being common. Indeed, the tribe was barely surviving attacks by Haradrim^, who seemed intent on wiping the Nephtali off the face of the earth. When Shammah was eighteen, the Haradrim, Variags, and people of Amal^ allied and attacked the Nephtali. Their numbers overpowering, they killed all the adult warriors, including his father. Though Shammah fought, they spared him as the other young men, to work as slaves. For more than a year, he waited until the opportune moment. At last one night he escaped, and filled with strength, headed northwest. His captors turned from the chase once he had reached Southern Ithilien, and he was free at last. Having heard of the king of the lands, he came to Minas Tirith and petitioned Lord Aragorn, who was moved by his plight. Raising an army, Elessar marched upon south and at last came upon the borders of the Haradrims' new territory. Though Aragorn and Shammah arrived too late to catch them unaware, they routed the armies of charioteers, Oliphaunts, and horsemen. A madness seized Shammah, and he struck down thirty Haradrim on his father's land^. Learning that his mother and sisters had been taken captive, Shammah pursued the Haradrim slavers as they fled northeast. Lord Aragorn would have helped, but he was trying to free the rest of the Nephtali, whose captors were fleeing in all directions. Passing through Khand, Shammah had many close encounters with Variags and other eastern people. Stopping in the forest east of the Inland Sea, he was almost captured by the giant known as Anak^. The Haradrim at last made a mistake that would cost them dearly; they tried to pass through the lands of the centaurs. For the strange half-men ambushed them during the night and slaughtered all the captors. Enchanted by the beauty of Shammah's mother and sisters, and stirred by lust, Garthorn^ and his three advisors took them as wives. Few spoke openly against this deed, but Cirstor, prince of the centaurs and son of Garthorn, was troubled in his heart. As for Shammah, great was his sorrow when he saw the slain Haradrim, for it seemed to him that his family was among the dead. Still, he did not give up, but stayed in that area searching for any news of his mother and sisters. How he managed to elude the centaurs is unknown, but there are whispers that he discovered how to become invisible^. At last he heard a story about a new and darkly beautiful human wife the king of the centaurs obtained recently, and he realized what had occurred. Coming to the centaur's stronghold, Shammah obtained entry by an unknown means and managed to contact Tamar^ and his sisters. Biding their time, they waited until all had managed to smuggle weapons ^ before striking. The next night, Shammah confronted the king in his bedroom. He allowed Garthorn his spear before they fought. Long was the battle, and his wrath was terrible to behold. At last Shammah gave Garthorn such a stroke that he fell mortally wounded. Cirstor entered the room and with a glance saw what had taken place. Turning to Shammah, he bade him welcome, and thanked him, for Garthorn had paid the price of his crime. Yet even as the king lay dying, he cursed^ Cirstor for blessing the dealer of his own father's death. On the prince a great sorrow fell; and the greeting faltered at his lips. But the king breathed his last, and so passed Garthorn, last of the centaur-rulers. For Cirstor took the crown from his father's head and cast it against the wall with a terrible force, breaking it. Leaving the room, Shammah found Tamar and his sisters, who had killed their husband-captors. With great joy the family was reunited, free at last. Cirstor and his soldiers escorted them to the edge of the centaur lands, and both Cirstor and Shammah's hearts were heavy at their parting; for they had become friends in their short time together. Passing west, Shammah and his family at last arrived at Minas Tirith, for he greatly wished for them to meet Lord Aragorn. Lord Aragorn was glad to hear that the rumors of Shammah's death were untrue, and he welcomed the family and offered to let them stay in the city. For several months they enjoyed a house in the uppermost level of Minas Tirith. But then there were stirrings in Shammah's heart; driven by wanderlust, he bade his family farewell and traveled southeast, through Khand. Continuing northeast, he skirted the centaur plains and at last came upon the mysterious Oreb^ Mountains. He noticed a change in trees and plants; those he recognized increased in height, but most were new to him. The jungle contained a heaviness, as if it were a solemn brooding giant. While gathering wood for his campfire, he caught a glimpse of a strange creature...intrigued, he followed it cautiously. At last Shammah caught up with the beast, which seemed most alarming to him. Larger than a horse, it was covered with hair and had long, curved claws on its grasping arms, which it reached up to grab a leafy branch a full ten feet from the ground with. Shammah watched in amazement as it slowly moved from tree to tree, sparing no leafed twig. At last, its stomach full, the creature^ lumbered off into the shadows. That night as he sat at the campfire, Shammah saw glowing eyes in the darkness. He decided it was better to sleep in a tree. The next morning he saw clawed tracks^ larger than his hand, which resembled those of wolves he had seen in his homeland. Even with the obvious dangers, Shammah found the jungle to be a fascinating place. As the months passed, he learned much about his new home and its animals. From the large round scurrying animal^ covered in hard plates, to the huge cat^ with its long, jutting fangs, he grew to respect the inhabitants. Slowly building a home with a fence able to repel even the Oliphaunt-creatures, he lived somewhat peacefully for a time. But fate seemed to have something else in mind, for during a pig hunt Shammah discovered a cleft in the base of the mountains. Curious, he returned later with a torch and entered. Having found that the cave seemed to be quite long, he left and packed up his belongings, intent on exploring at least one of the passageways fully. Traveling several miles past cliffs and sinkholes, he at last came to a great room with what seemed to be carvings in the walls. Following what appeared to be a path, he found a whole city carved into the rock of one side of the room. As he examined one of the rooms, he noticed a light emanating from a niche in the wall. When Shammah investigated, he found a strange stone of a crystalline shape which emitted light. He was greatly relieved to have found this glowing crystal, for he had almost run out of enough torches to return to the surface safely. Continuing to follow the path which led through a narrow doorway to another room, Shammah saw great spires shaped out of the rock, and at the top of each was a stone like the one he was holding, save larger. As he gazed about in wonder, he was startled suddenly by a noise. Having seen no other creature, living or dead, since he had entered, he covered the lamp with a fold of his robe and slipped into a shadow nearby, wrapping himself in darkness. A hooded man, tall and proud, walked slowly by, in one hand holding a large lantern bearing a scales from a hook on its bottom. In the other fist he clutched two keyrings, one black and white, the other silver and gold. And each ring bore two keys. At last he stopped, directly in front of a two doors. Shammah was gripped with a sudden boldness, and stepping from the shadows he hailed the mysterious figure. Not turning, the giant spoke: "Your time has not come, Shammah Eastern Wanderer." And so saying, he picked the golden key and made to unlock the door^ on the right. "Wait!" Shammah cried, but the being paid no heed. So swiftly did the giant man pass through, Shammah had to run to keep him within sight. Long was their trek through the dark passageway, and Shammah grew weary. But as even as he fell behind and was afraid of being lost in the oppressing darkness, the light ahead grew brighter. Coming through another door, Shammah beheld sunlight again, slanting over the mountains. The mysterious giant was nowhere to be seen. And as he explored the fertile hills, filled with blossoming trees and covered with soft green grass, he at last came upon a table, heaped with good foods of every kind. Sitting down, he ate his fill before falling into a deep sleep. As Shammah slept, he dreamt of two trees, one black, and the other white. When he awoke, he found himself in a part unknown. Before him were the two trees of his dream and a maiden, fair of skin and light of hair, wrapped in a white robe. In her hand was a basket, and it was full of golden fruit. "Of these have you eaten already." She said. "Yet try another now, and may your eyes be opened." Taking one from the lady's hand, Shammah tasted it, and did not finish. For the fruit was bitter, though pleasing to the eye. It seemed to him that too many thoughts filled his head, and great was his distress. She laughed at this and kissed his cheek. "You have been judged as innocent, and innocent will you remain, though others who ate of this fruit died. You will be known as wise among men, and even those older." So saying she pointed with her hand to the black tree and he beheld a maiden plucking fruit from its boughs. She was dark skinned, with black hair, and wrapped in a black robe. Turning, she bade him welcome, and said "These you have not tasted, but now you are worthy. Take but a piece." Shammah hesitated, for the fruit was locked in a hard shell. But finally he grasped it, and cried aloud. Great was his pain, and he withdrew his hand, which was laid open to the bone. The dark woman smiled gently. "Is there not a price for everything?" Giving him a knife, she cut it open and gave him a piece. And as he ate it, his wound was healed. But he did not notice, a hunger being awakened within him as he tasted the fair flesh. For words alone could not describe the fruit, which easily surpassed any food he had ever eaten, even that of the table. But then even as he savored the taste on his tongue, he grew weary and desired only to rid his mouth of that lingering flavor. It was taking over his senses; he could neither feel nor taste, seeing nothing but the fruit in the maiden's hand. All he wished for was to escape... Shammah awoke several hours later, feeling as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders. The dark lady was nowhere to be found. He lay down and meditated on what had occurred. At last he tried to return to the table, but spent some time wandering, not knowing which direction he had come from. Spotting a falcon, he followed it until he arrived at a forest. There he saw a great, tall man, astride a huge horse with hooves of thunder. Spying him, the stranger asked him who or what he was looking for. "I do not know," Shammah replied. "There were two maidens who had me eat of two trees, and they have gone." The giant suddenly raised a blast on his horn, and the trees shook. There was an answering call from the west, and the man turned his horse in that direction and was gone. Yet Shammah saw that he had dropped his horn. Picking it up, his vision swam, and when he blinked and his eyes had cleared, he saw that he was in front of the door he had entered this fair land from. And even as he gazed in bewilderment, both the dark and light maiden had appeared, as well as the man from the cave and the rider. Silently they surrounded him, so that the only direction to go was through the open door. As he walked through, it slowly and silently swung shut behind him. One last glimpse did he catch of the four, as they raised their hands in farewell. Then he was in the darkness. Remembering his crystal, Shammah reached inside his robe and let the stone pierce the gloom. Passing through the second door, which also shut behind him, he covered the distance underground rapidly until he at last reached the opening. But then he noticed a foul smell, and saw a huge figure looming in the darkness. Shammah was amazed. He had never seen any signs of a cave bear when he entered the cave...hiding his sunstone, he managed to creep past without it seeing him, although it could obviously smell his scent. It was evening, and he hurried to reach his shelter before the sun set and the dire wolves and fanged cats began to prowl. Yet even as he came upon the clearing, he found his house to be inhabited. Approaching cautiously, he saw centaur. And then he recognized Cirstor. Great was their joy at meeting again, and Shammah begged Cirstor to forgive him for not being there to welcome him when he first arrived. Yet Cirstor laughed. Seeing the light on Shammah's face, he said "I imagine you were busy with much more important things. It is of little matter." Then Shammah asked why he had come, and Cirstor told of how his father's curse had him lose his inheritance, his home, and even his name. "For now I am nameless." he said. "Until the time comes, I will be known only as the centaur." So it was, and over the years Shammah continued to respect his friend's wishes. Much time did they spend together, even when the centaur went to learn under Aedail. For though Aedail and Shammah seemed as different as night and day, they were alike in spirit and mind. Much did all three learn from another, and an oath they swore...to uphold truth and justice, regardless of what would come in this new age. Thus ends the tale of Shammah, son of Reuel and Tamar. The writer understands how some parts of this story may be unclear or confusing, and would be glad to answer any questions. Further Information: ^Nephtali: Brown of skin and eye and black of hair, the Nephtali were a proud people. Shammah's father was a shepherd, as were many others. However, they were also fierce warriors, fighting with both straight and curved blades, as well as spears, slings, and bows. Fond of jewelry, both men and women wore earrings. Nose rings were also common among the women of the tribe. Turbans were somewhat popular among the men. ^Haradrim: Lord Aragorn had conquered the tribes nearest Ithilien, so they were probably trying to find new land where they would be safer. ^Amal: Called the Amalekites, these people were ruthless warriors. The Nephtali had defeated them in the past, but having not destroyed them completely, they rose up again and become a threat once more. ^Anak: Five and a half cubits high, that is, eight to nine feet. Probably an anomaly. Anak carried a huge axe. ^Land: It is believed by most that this was a lentil field. ^Garthorn: King of the centaurs, he was known for changing the traditions and introducing foreign concepts, such as the marriage of a centaur and human. ^Invisible: If this is true, there is no information on how he discovered this secret. ^Tamar: That is, Shammah's mother. ^Weapons: The centaur women did not fight, at least in this tribe. This, and the fact that Nephtali women could fight when needed, is no doubt why Tamar and her daughters managed to kill the advisors. ^Cursed: This curse removed Cirstor's claim to kingship, his father's possessions, and even the name his father gave him. ^Oreb: Oreb means "Gateway" ^Creature: This description meets that of a giant sloth. ^Tracks: Probably of a Dire Wolf. ^Animal: This sounds like a Glyptotherium, a five foot tall armadillo-like mammal with a rigid bony shell. ^Cat: Obviously Smilodon, the "Saber Toothed Tiger" ^Door: Inscribed on the right door was Kaldun, which means "Morning". On the left door was inscribed Ben'dur, which means "Evening" On Sunstones: With a natural hexagonal crystal system, sunstones seem only to be found beneath the Oreb Mountains. Hardness: 11. Specific gravity: 3.6. Piezoelectric and reverse refractive properties. I'm sorry if you don't like this one as much as the other...it does have a different tone. More Hebrew, Celtic and Greek. |
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| Author: | Eomira [ January 24th, 2006, 6:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Definately Hebrew and Greek...very nice touch though..interesting...makes me think..maybe to much for me blonde head:D lol <br> FIRST COMMENT! |
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| Author: | Eä [ January 25th, 2006, 7:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I like it a lot... especially the last part from where Shammah leaves Minas Tirith for the second time, though there is still lots of wholes to fill in if you should want to work further on it. Interesting story, good job! Aww nice banner Eomira! |
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| Author: | Aerandir [ January 25th, 2006, 8:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Yeah, definately Hebrew and Greek. The negative side of it all is that you're merging Tolkien's history with greek and hebrew mythology which is something that always bugs me severely. |
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| Author: | Sage-Child [ January 25th, 2006, 5:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Yeah, I feel bad about merging things that actually occurred with a world Tolkien created from European myths. However, I did balance it out a bit with snippets from Greek myths, as well as some semi-Celtic characters. It's kind of hard to mix fact and fiction, and I am definitely not the best at it. |
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| Author: | Eä [ January 25th, 2006, 5:38 pm ] |
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Well strictly speaking that's what Tolkien did too, add and subtract. Off course he was inspired by mythologies and stories but he put it together and created his own frame, and I think that's what you are doing too (I don't see the Hebrew reference though... not familiar with them...and the Greek..hmm) |
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| Author: | Eomira [ January 25th, 2006, 7:35 pm ] |
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Thanks Ea! <br> I'm actually learning anciet greek in school...quite interesting actually:D |
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